Valve grinding gauge



Oct. 15, 1940. E HUGGlNs 2,217,952

VALVE GRINDING GAUGE Filed Dec. 18, 1939 IN VENTOR.

Patented Oct. 15, 1940 "v LvE GRINDINGGAUGEI.

Gerald Huggins, Kalamazoo, Mich.,. assignor of one-half to Dean S. Nusbaum.Kalamazoo,

Mich.

- Application December 18, 1939, Serial No. q9, s49

' This inventionrelates to grinding gauges. v

The main objects of thisinven'tion are: First, to provide a novel gauge for facilitating improvements in valve the proper grinding and fitting of tappet'valve,

elements. 7

Second, to provide a gauge of the typedescribed which is of exceedingly simple constructionand by which the accurate grinding of the valve'seat U and valve are facilitated;

.Third to provide a gauge which is in the form of a single unit adapted to be positioned in the valve opening of an engine block, and to be prop erly adjusted therein, the said gauge thereafter serving as a handy and convenient device by use of which the grinding of the valve is greatly facilitated. I

Objects relating to details and economies of. the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: e

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of part of an engine block adjacent a valve open ing therein and illustrating the construction and relation thereto of the device of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view generally similarto Fig. 1, being in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 4 and illustrating themanner in which the gauge is employed with a valve in determining'the proper amount to be groundQtherefrom' so that the valve will close properly on a ground valve seat.

Fig, 3 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which a valve is inserted in the device of the invention for gauging. I

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 areviews in section on lines 4-4, 5.5, and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 2.

This invention relates to a valve gauging device foriacilitating the proper fitting of the valve with relation to the reground engine valve seats therefor. 'Moreparticularly, it concerns such a device which is in the form of a single unit which may be inserted in its entirety in the valve opening of an engine block and given a single and final setting therein, after which the device is removedand availed of in the grinding or fitting of a valve, without further reference to the engine block or without the use of further coacting devices to enable the valve to be properly ground for accurate seating on the valve seat. Furthermore, no mental calculations are required in'ascertaining'the amount of metal to be removed. I am aware that devices have heretofore been .proposed for thisgeneral 7 Claims. (Cl. 33-l8l) purposefbut tomy knowledge all thereof involve the successive use'of a plurality of different gauging' instrumentalitis or require the making of a number of different settings; in shortfall are characterized by a complexity either in structure or manner of use, which it is the particular pur pose of the present invention to avoid.

Referring to the: drawing, the reference nu; meral 1 indicates the'cylinde'r block of an internal combustion. engine which has avvalve passage 2 provided with a valve seat 3 with which thegaug' ingdevice of my invention coacts in ascertaining theamount of grinding ofthe valve stem req isite to provide proper closing. It is assumedthatfthis 1 seat has been properly'ground.

The device of this invention is generally'desig-j nated by the reference numeral .5 and consists of an elongated hollow tubular metal'body member "6 Qfi'a. diameter enabling the same to be slidably receivedinjthevalve guide opening 1 in the block. The bore ofthis member 6 is counterbored at8 to receiveth'e'enlarged neck 9 of a-valve'between the stem Ill and valve element proper l l of the valve, as clearly illustrated in Fig. ,2, and is further counterbored at l2 and provided'with albeveled seat l3 theangle of which corresponds tothe angle of the engine block valve seat ,3; This seat 13' receives'the valve element H in testing as shown in Fig. 2, and the gauge has an external beveled or inclined peripheral shoulder 53'! which isadapted to engage the seat ,3 .whejnthe gauge isinserted in the block, as in Fig. 1. The distance between'the seat [3 and a vertically alined portion of the shoulder is indicated by the-reference n character A in Fig. 1.

-At its lower end, the member 6 telescopingly receives a further tubular gauge element 14 'whichis hollow in-part and at its lower end has a .tappet engaging block 15 for engagement with theslidable tappet'or cam follower [60f the engine. 1 The vertical thicknessof this-block is denoted B in Fig. 1 and --is exactly equal to the dimension A. The element I4 is urged outwardly relative to the bodymember 6 by a coiled compression spring ll interposed between the end of the element and an 4 internal shoulder I8 formed in the bore of. the body member 6. A set screw [9 extends through the member 6 and coacts with the element I l for clamping the same in adjusted position. Thisse't r d screw maybe actuated by the wrench 20.

In order to facilitate insertion of the valve in the gauge for testing. I provide the latter with a radial slot 2! extending vertically from an intermediate point on the member 6 to the upper extrenlity of the same. This slotcommunicates'the bore of the body member with the exterior thereof and is of a suflicient width to receive the stem II] of the valve in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. The slot H may be provided with an enlarged portion 22 to accommodate the enlarged tappet engaging portion 23 of the valve.

The telescoping member I4 has an opening 24 formed in the side thereof and exposing the top surface 25 of the tappet engaging block I5, this opening enabling the insertion of a suitable feeler gauge 26, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and likewis serving as a sight opening.

In utilizing the gauging device of my invention, assuming that the valve seat has been properly ground, the gauge 5 is inserted in the valve opening so that the beveled shoulder I3I thereof firmly engages the valve seat 3. At this time, the set screw I9 is backed off so that the element I4 may telescope freely in the member 6 against the action of the spring I I. cam actuated tappet I 6. With the telescoping element I4 properly positioned, the set screw I9 is actuated to clamp the element and member 6 in this adjusted position and the gauge is then removed from the engine block. Since the vertical thickness of the block I5 is exactly equal to the distance between the point of engagement of the shoulder I3I with the valve seat 3 and a corresponding point on the seat I3, itis clear that the distance between the surface 25 of the tappet engaging block I5 and the seat I3 of the gauge is exactly equal to the distance between the uppermost surface of tappet IB and the valve seat 3.

In case the valve 4 is a new one which it is desired to properly fit for insertion, it is only necessary to grind sufficient material from the enlarged tappet engaging end portion 23 thereof to enable the latter to engage surface 25 (or a suitable clearance feeler gauge 26) when the beveled valve member I I engages and seals the seat I3 of the gauge. This operation of grinding down the stem can be performed with the gauge of my invention conveniently at hand so that a number of trips to and from the engine block to determine by trial and error if the stem is of proper length are unnecessary. The feeler gauge 26 representing a thickness of, say, .002 inch when inserted between the end of the valve stem and the surface 25 as illustrated in Fig. 2 in sures that when ground and reinstalled the valve will close on seat 3, by reason of the slight clearance provided. If the valve is an old one and in a pitted or corroded condition, it should be ground on the seat engaging surface, after which it may be gauged by removal of the metal from the end portion 23 as in the case of a new valve.

The device in accordance with the above description greatly simplifies the operation of fitting valves for proper and efiicient seating. The device itself is simple, consisting of a single selfcontained unit and not being dependent upon other coacting devices, nor requiring mental computation in its use, hence not involving the complexity of a manipulation which such devices commonly do.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 The block I5 engages the claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A valve gauging device comprising tubular telescoping tappet engaging and valve seat engaging members, spring means interposed between said members to urge the same longitudimember, the relative adjusted positions of said telescoping members being determined by insertion thereof in a valve opening for engagement with the valve seat and tappet of an engine respectively, thereby telescopingly shifting the same in opposition to said spring means, and

means for. securing the members in longitudinal- 1y adjusted position.

2. A valve gauging device comprising tubular telescoping tappet engaging and valve seat engaging members, said valve seat engagingmember having a bore for the reception of a valve to be gauged and having a valve seat engaging surface and a further test surface spacedlongitudinally therefrom and adapted to be engaged by the valve, said tappet engaging member having a tappet engaging surface and a test surface spaced therefrom a distance equal to the spacing of corresponding longitudinally alined portions of said seat engaging and first named test surfaces on the seat engaging member, the relative adjusted postions of said telescoping members being determined by insertion thereof in a valve opening for engagement with the valve seat and tappet of an engine respectively, means for resiliently urging said members in opposite directions, and means for securing the members in longitudinally adjusted position.

3. A valve gauging device comprising tubular telescoping tappet engaging and valve seat engaging members, spring means interposed between said members to urge the same longitudinally apart, said members having provision for the reception of a valve to be gauged, said seat engaging member having a valve seat engaging surface and a further test surface spaced longitudinally therefrom and adapted to be engaged by the valve to be gauged, said tappet engaging member having a tappet engaging surface and a test surface spaced longitudinally a distance equal to the spacing of corresponding longitudinally alined portions of said seat engaging and tappet surfaces on the seat engaging member, the relative adjusted positions of said telescoping members being determined by insertion thereof in a valve opening for engagement with the valve seat and tappet of an engine respectively, thereby telescopingly shifting the same in opposition to said spring means, and means for securing the members in longitudinally adjusted position,

4. A gauging or testing device of the type described comprising a pair of hollow axially telescoping members, one thereof having a beveled surface engageable with the valve seat of an engine and a further similarly beveled gauging seat spaced axially from the seat engaging surface and, adapted to be engaged by a valve to be test- Ill ed, the other thereof having a surface engageable with the tappet of the engine and a further test surface spaced axially from said tappet engaging surface a distance equal to the spacing of the seat' engaging and gauging surfaces of said first named member, meansfor urging said members for relative'axial movement in one dia rection to oppose engagement of said seating surface with a valve seat when said tappet engaging surface is in engagement with a tappet of the engine, and means for clamping said members in axially adjusted position. i

5. A gauging or testing device of the type described comprising a pair ofaxially telescoping members having provision to receive a valve to be tested, one thereof having a surface engageable with the valve seat of an engine and a further gauging seat space'daxially from-the seat engaging surface and adapted to be engaged by a valve to be tested, the other thereof having a surface engageable with the tappet of the engine and a further test surface spaced axially from said tappet engaging surface a distance bearing a predetermined relation to the spacing of the seat engaging and gauging surfaces of said first named member, means for urging said members for relative axial movement in one direction to oppose engagement of said seating surface with a valve seat when said tappet engaging surface is in engagement with a tappet of the engine, and means for clamping said members in axially adjusted position.

6. A gauging or testing device of the type described comprising a pair of axially telescoping able with the valve seat of an engine and a further gauging seat spaced axially from the seat engaging surface and adapted to be engaged by a valve to be tested, the other thereof having a surface engageable with the tappet of the engine and a further test surface spaced axially from said tappet engaging surface a distance bearing a predetermined relation to the spacing of the seat engaging and gauging surfaces ofsaid first named member, the distance between said gauging seat and test surface'representing the distance between said valve seat and tapp t when said device isaxially adjusted so that the first named surface engages the engine valve seat and said tappet engaging surface engages a tap pet of the engine, resilient means to urge the members apart, and means for clamping said members in axially adjusted position. I

7. A gauging'or testing device of the class described comprising a tubular body member adapted to be, inserted in a cylinder block with a valve guide removed therefrom and having a head portionadapted to rest on the valve seat, said member having a seat in its outer end corresponding to the valve seat and adapted to receive a valve adapted to coact with the valve seat with the stem of the valve disposed within the body member, a tappet engaging member telescopingly adjustable relative to said body member and provided with a gauging seat in opposed relation to the end of a valve stem arranged in the device, resilient means to urge the members apart, and means for securing said tappet engaging member in its adjusted position in said body member.

GERALD E. HUGGINS. 

